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Rumblings xtra: Items that didn't make print edition

By: Bob Hunter

The Columbus Dispatch - December 07, 2012 09:35 AM

Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge was a victim of a vicious dunk by
former Ohio State and Canal Winchester seven-footer Byron Mullens in the team's game against the
Charlotte Bobcats that is getting a lot of views on YouTube, and it would have been very easy for
his game to be affected. Instead, Aldridge carried the Blazers to an overtime victory after they
were down by 17 points with five minutes to go. Afterwards, he couldn't help but get one dig in at
Mullens.

"He dunked on me, but I think I had 25, 13, five, and three," Aldridge said. "So, you want to
dunk on somebody or you want that?"

Aldridge took the slam good-naturedly, and why not? He admitted later that it motivated him to
a big game.

“I told him it was a good dunk,” Aldridge said. “But I would rather get the W and the numbers.
It was a good play, though.”

Mullens had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the game.

Roberto Hernandez, the former Cleveland Indians pitcher who was known as Fausto
Carmona, is

apparently attracting some interest. MLB.com reported that Hernandez, 31, has an offer both
from the Tribe and one other major league club, and that an industry source said that has at least
five teams interested in him.

The Indians declined a $6 million option on Hernandez at the end of the season, making him a
free agent. He made only three starts for Cleveland last season, after being arrested in
January in the Dominican Republic on charges of using a false name. Legal issues kept him from
obtaining a visa and entering the United States for several months. Baseball lifted a suspension
and the former All-Star became eligible to pitch for the Indians on Aug. 11. He was later slowed by
an ankle injury.

Reds manager Dusty Baker put the brakes on speedy prospect Billy Hamilton’s rush
to the big leagues at baseball’s winter meetings, telling Yahoo.com that the 22-year-old’s position
change from shortstop to center-field might delay his arrival in Cincinnati.

"He's learning how to play center field, and he's learning how to switch hit," Baker said. "He
has a few things to learn just about baseball, and it won't be too long. I can't say how long
because I don't know how quickly he can come."

Hamilton stole 155 bases last season, split between Class A and AA, and he is expected to
start this season in Triple-A. He batted .310/.410 and had 86 walks.

"It's just a tendency to rush him because we've heard so much about him, but are you doing him
a disservice by rushing him?" Baker said. "That's where the dilemma comes in where people are going
to be hollering to see him. Whether he's ready or not to play as mistake free baseball as
possible."

Northern Illinois students can reserve a free ticket to the Orange Bowl, but they
will have to pick up their tickets in Miami. The 12-1 Huskies will be the first Mid-American
Conference team to appear in a BCS bowl and school officials want to make sure that the bowl is
well-attended and that their students are part of the experience.

After beating Ken State to win the MAC title, NIU coach Dave Doeren took the head coaching job
at North Carolina State and offensive coordinator Rod Carey replaced him in that position.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Cleveland Browns currently have the
No. 7 position in the NFL draft. A recent surge that has seen the Browns (4-8) win four of their
last seven games lands them behind Kansas City (2-10), Jacksonville (2-10), Oakland (3-9),
Philadelphia (3-9), Carolina (3-9) and San Diego (4-8) in that order. Nothing is set in stone,
however. The last two seasons Cleveland had a 1-8 December record.

Former Browns coach Butch Davis was the front runner for the vacant Florida
International University coaching position, according to the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
But Davis, currently a special assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, isn’t taking the job
according to a tweet by ESPN’s Joe Schad.

Davis is close to FIU athletic director Pete Garcia, whom worked with him as director of
football operations while Davis was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995-2000. When
Davis left to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Garcia followed him to Cleveland. In
2003, Garcia became a vice president of the Browns.